Monitoring device installation method and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9623391-B2
Application number	US-201514643428-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2015
Priority date	Jul 28, 2009
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

A method for installing a monitoring device with the simultaneous loading of a particulate catalyst into a vertical catalyst tube includes (i) introducing a monitoring device into the tube, (ii) introducing monitoring device alignment apparatus into the tube, (iii) introducing catalyst loading apparatus into the tube, (iv) loading catalyst particles into the top of the tube whereinafter they contact said catalyst loading apparatus as they pass down the tube, forming a uniform bed of catalyst beneath said catalyst loading apparatus and alignment apparatus and around said monitoring device, and (v) simultaneously removing the catalyst loading apparatus and alignment apparatus from the catalyst tube in timed relationship to the catalyst loading. The monitoring device alignment apparatus includes a ring member and two or more spacing members affixed to the ring member such that the ring member and the monitoring device are centrally positioned within the tube.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An alignment apparatus suitable for installing a monitoring device within a particulate filled tube, the alignment apparatus comprising, a ring member through which said monitoring device may freely pass, two or more flexible wires, ropes or cables, attached to the ring member, and two or more spacing members selected from plates, rods, and springs radially extending from a perimeter of the ring member and sized to position the ring and monitoring device centrally within a tube, said alignment apparatus further comprising a monitoring device selected from the group consisting of a device for measuring temperature, a device for measuring pressure, a device for measuring flowrate, and a chemical sensor for monitoring the presence of a component in a process fluid.

2. Alignment apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ring member has 5-12 rod or spring spacing members evenly positioned around the circumference of the ring member.

3. Alignment apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ring member is constructed from two pieces that are adapted to be joined around the monitoring device.

4. Alignment apparatus according claim 1 comprising two or more ring members on which the spacing members on each of the ring members may be the same or different.

5. Alignment apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a weight suspended below said ring member.

6. Alignment apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the weight is constructed from two pieces that are adapted to be joined around the monitoring device.

7. Alignment apparatus according to claim 1 comprising one or two ring members, each with spring or rod spacing members, and a weight suspended from the ring member or members, with each ring member and the weight constructed from two halves that are joined around two suspending wires that are locked in position by the act of joining the two halves.

8. Alignment apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with a monitoring device selected from a temperature measuring device or thermocouple.

9. A combination of the alignment apparatus according to claim 1 and catalyst loading apparatus.

10. A combination according to claim 9 wherein the catalyst loading apparatus comprises a wire, rope or cable supporting spaced damper means in the form of flexible radially extending springs.

11. A combination according to claim 9 wherein the alignment apparatus is connected to and suspended from the catalyst loading apparatus.

12. A combination according to claim 11 wherein the alignment apparatus is suspended from the catalyst loading apparatus by two or more wires, which are spaced about the ring member so that it is held level during installation and catalyst loading.

13. A combination according to claim 9 wherein a monitoring system is affixed to the underside of the alignment apparatus and connected to a monitor outside the tube to enable the operator to judge the relative distance of the catalyst surface and the loading apparatus during loading.

Assignees

• Johnson Matthey Plc

Inventors

• Brightling John Robert
• Shah Jumal Ahmad

Classifications

• B01J2208/00778

  Kinetic energy reducing devices in the flow channel · CPC title

• B01J8/003 Primary

  in a downward flow · CPC title

• B01J2208/0007

  Pressure measurement · CPC title

• B01J2208/00752

  Feeding · CPC title

• B01J2208/00769

  Details of feeding or discharging · CPC title